Cant Get My Turbine Engine Started

[Jetman]

Hello, this is my first time posting, i recently made a Cat C13 turbine jet engine, but i cant get it to start... I followed the specs on JetSpecs. It will ignite, but it will not spool at all.  It is a divided inlet turbo with a 2.5 inch inducer. I am using propane to power it, with a 5 inch flame tube with a 6 inch outer tube.  Please help me to solve the problem. Thanks!

[racket]

Hi

Your propane cylinder may be fitted with a safety device that limits gas flow , you'll get enough for ignition , but once you try and increase flow it shuts off the flow .

Another thought , are you using any sort of regulator ??

Lots more info please

Cheers
John

[Jetman]

Hello, I have a liquid ball valve to regulate pressure, and I get around 100 psi with a new tank, so I don’t think it is the fuel system. How long should my fuel pipe be inside the flame tube? The combustion chamber is 15 inches long. What is the best way to send some pictures on the forum? Thanks!

[racket]

Hi

Your propane injector needs to spray radially within the flametube , NO axial injection , have you checked out the "guidelines" jetandturbineowners.proboards.com/thread/680/diy-turbines , just hit the icons in the various catagories to bring up the info, you only need a sort length of tube just long enough so that the radial propane injection is opposite the Primary holes , a length of 3/8" tube with end blanked off and a dozen small holes ( 1-1.5mm diameter) drilled equally spaced around the tube wall in a couple of rows will distribute the fuel sufficiently .

To send pics don't use the "quick reply" , use the "Reply" on the right hand side , it'll allow you to include pics into the Reply

Cheers
John

[Jetman]

Hello, the propane is spraying radially, in place where the air goes into the primary holes. I can’t figure it out… there is a nice spot deposit swirled till halfway of the flametube, then it looks white and lean. I Am just figuring out how to send some pictures. Thanks!

[Jetman]

[racket]

Hi

The combustion should only occur in the Primary Zone with propane , once it gets to the Secondary holes the combustion gases are getting diluted and by Tertiary holes cooled and very diluted ..

Are you able to get a large flame from the turbo exhaust during spoolup ??

What are you using to spoolup the engine ??

Cheers
John

[Jetman]

Hello, I am using a leaf blower, and air compressor, I will try again tonight, but it just won’t spool. I’ll take more pictures..

[Jetman]

The flame isn’t very large out of the turbo.

[racket]

Our engines need a lot of fuel and unless the propane cylinder is capable of supplying it you'll have problems

[Jetman]

But the tank is at 100 psi with 1/4 inch hose, shouldn’t that be good?

[racket]

It'll depend on the size of the cylinder fittings , if the valve oriface is small or theres a safety device added , flow will be restricted even though theres 100psi of pressure inside , an oxy cylinder might have 3,000 psi inside it but the valving won't allow a massive flow rate out .

It might be an idea to disconnect the fuel line from the engine, and making sure theres no sources of ignition nearby , open up your propane supply to see just how much comes out of your fuel delivery line , be careful of "freezing" , so keep hands off it , secure it somehow .

What sized cylinder are you using ??

A 2.5 inch inducered comp will flow a lot of air , probably requiring >1 lb of fuel per minute

Cheers
John

[Jetman]

Hello, I tested the propane wide open, and I think you are right! I have a hose attached to the tank, the psi gauge then the valve, so I would turn the tank on, then the hose would get 120 psi, but letting it go wide open, there is not very much pressure whatsoever. How Can I get the pressure up?? Thanks 

[Jetman]

Hello, here’s some pictures of the fitting, I think it is a 1mm hole, should I drill it out bigger? What do you recommend?

[racket]

Thats a pretty small restriction , and having a sharp edge the effective flow area will be even smaller , it certainly wouldn't hurt to drill it out to 5 mm and put a chamfer on the inlet edge to help flow into the hole.